Archbishop of Canterbury: ‘Popular opinion on equal marriage is not a case for changing obedience to God’

The Archbishop of Canterbury said that popular opinion should not change Christians' views on equal marriage

Speaking at a Christian conference, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said that popular opinion on equal marriage is “not a case for changing obedience to God”.

Addressing over 6,000 people at the conference, he said it would be “foolish”, to ignore the “revolution” of same-sex marriage coming into law in England and Wales.

He acknowledged that the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act, which has now received Royal Assent, had support from all parties, but said that was not enough for Christians to change from their “obedience to God”.

Archbishop Welby voted against equal marriage in the House of Lords, and had said he could hear the “roar of revolution”, on listening to debate around the issue.

The statement continued to make the headlines, particularly after the Financial Times revealed that the Church indirectly contributed to Wonga through its stake in a venture capital fund, which invested heavily in the payday loans company.